Ski sled



. v L. BRoscHART 3,301,569

SKI SLED Filed May 19, 1965 @En L?) unfall m INVENTOR. HWV L mocmrt Unitedv StatCSPatent O Filed May 19,1965, ser. No. 457,145 3 claims. (ci. 28o-25) This invention relates to devices usable in outdoor sports, and :more particularly to a ski sled.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a ski sled incorporating an elongated two-part curved ski-like runner having means enabling it to be adapted for traveling on soft or hard snow or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a ski .sled of a simple and economic construction incorporating adjustable seat an-d feet receiving brackets.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a ski sled having an elongated curved body member and means thereon engaging the ski-like runner of the sled at widely spaced points therealong so as to hold sai-d ski-like runner in a desired configuration suitable for the type of snow on which the sled is operated.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a ski sled incorporating a rudder-like vertical n on the ski-like runner for contributing a control to the same so as to prevent sideward sliding or slipping thereof.

The ski sled disclosed herein is a particularly attractive and novel outdoor sports device in that it combines the several advantages of skis with the convenience of a sled and modifies these by incorporating an elevated adjustable seat and movable foot rests. More importantly, the ski sled disclosed herein forms the main ski-like runner of the sled in two parts, which are adjustable longitudinall-y of one another and are so arranged that the relatively at or length-wise snow contacting area of the ski sled may be varied by changing the adjustment provided. In operating the device on soft snow, the two parts of the ski-like runner are moved to their maximum length and whereby they assume the longest, flattened snow engaging surface; thus, adding several additional square feet of support for the sled. On hard packed snow, or ice, the device may be adjusted to reduce the amount of engagementwith the snow and thereby contribute to the controlabilit-y thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in t-he accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the ski sled.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the adjustable portion of the ski-like runner of the sled seen in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the ski sled with broken lines showing an alternate, adjusted position of the ski-like runner of the sled.

By referring to the drawings and FIGURE 1 in particular, it will be seen that the ski sled comprises a tubu- -lar body member 10, the major portion of which is formed in an upwardly curving ilattened arc with its rearmost portion 11 secured by fasteners 12 to the rear portion of a fiat relatively wide ski-like runner 13. The forward end of the curving body curves sharply rearwardly at a point approximately three-fourths of its length as indicated by the numeral 14 in FIGURE l ofthe drawings,

Patented Jan. 3l, 1967 and then extends rearwardly on a substantially straight plane in a section indicated by the numeral 15. An angularly disposed, apertured brace member 16 is secured to the forward underside of the upwardly curving body member 10 and extends downwardly and is secured to l the forward end of the ski-like runner 13. Slots 17 in the ski-like runner 13 receive adjustable fasteners 18 which are secured to the rearmost end of a second flattened curving ski-like runner 19 hereinafter referred to as a `secondary runner. The rearmost end of the secondary runner 19 is tapered and this construction is best illustrated in the enlarged cross sectional View comprising FIGURE 2 of the drawings. By referring thereto, it will be observed that the position of the second runner 19 may be changed relative to the ski-like runner 13 by loosening the fasteners 18 and moving the two parts relative to one another and then re-securing the fasteners. The secondary runner 19 is of a general U-shape and the opposite arm or the uppermost portion thereof indicated by the numeral 20 has a bracket 21 by means of which handle -bars 22 are secured thereto. The rearmost end of this arm 20 of the secondary runner 19 is secured to the rearmost end 15 of the body member 10 by fasteners 23.

It will thus be seen that the upper rearmost end 15 of the body mem-ber 10 is arranged to slidably and telescopically receive a seat supporting bracket 24 on which a seat 25 is positioned and a fastener 26 positioned through the upper rearmost end 1S of the body member 10 enables the seat 25 and its slidably telescopic bracket 24 to -be secured in a desired adjusted relation relative thereto.

By referring again to the angular brace 16, is will be seen that it is provided with several vertically spaced apertures and thereby enabled to receive and retain a pair of oppositely disposed foot restls 27, which are secured thereto by means of fasteners 28. These foot rests 27 can thus be moved relative to the body member 10, and the seat 25 can be moved relative to the body member 10 and the handle bars 22, thus enabling the device to be adjusted to t various sized individuals. This arrangeiment plus the unique adjustability of the ski-like runners 13 and 19 result in a ski sled which is highly adaptable and entirely siutable for its purpose.

By referring now to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the rearmost end of the ski-like runner 13 is provided with a vertical iin 29 which is positioned so that it will sink into and engage snow or ride on the surface of ice depending upon the condition of the surface over which the ski sled is operated. In either event, the vertical fin 29 operates in the manner of a ice skate blade and provides a control function holding the rear portion of the ski sled against sideward slip and thus enabling it to be effectively steered which is achieved by tilting it from side to side in the manner of a bicycle, or a pair of skis.

It will thus be seen that the ski sled disclosed herein meets the several objects of the invention, and having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A ski sled comprising an elongated body member curving upwardly and rearwardly at its forward end and having a downwardly and forwardly extending brace -beneath said upwardly curving forward end, a first ski-like runner having its forward end secured to the lower end of said brace and its rearmost end secured to the rearmost end of said body member, a secondary ski-like runner formed in a U-shape and having one end adjustably attached to the forward end of said first ski-like runner, the other end of said secondary ski-like runner being secured to the uppermost portion of said body member, handle bars attached to said secondary ski-like runner and a seat adjustably positioned on the uppermost of said body member, foot rests attached to the opposite sides 3 4 of said brace and a vertical blade-like member secured References Cited by the Examiner to the rearmost portion of said first mentioned ski-like UNITED STATES PATENTS runner longitudinally thereof and centrally therebeneath.

2. The ski sled set forth in claim 1 and `wherein said 1,447,094 2/192-6 Ll-lhfS 280-12 elongated body members is tubular and the seat has a 5 3,123,373 3/ 1964 Antclif 28o-12 tubular support telescopically engaged in said body member- BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

3. The ski sled set forth in claim 1 and wherein said elongated body member is tubular and said first and sec- L- D MORRIS Assistant Examinerond ski-like runners are transversely at elongated sec- 10 tions of resilient metal. 

1. A SKI SLED COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY MEMBER CURVING UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY AT ITS FORWARD END AND HAVING A DOWNWARDLY AND FORWARDLY EXTENDING BRACE BENEATH SAID UPWARDLY CURVING FORWARD END, A FIRST SKI-LIKE RUNNER HAVING ITS FORWARD END SECURED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID BRACE AND ITS REARMOST END SECURED TO THE REARMOST END OF SAID BODY MEMBER, A SECONDARY SKI-LIKE RUNNER FORMED IN A U-SHAPE AND HAVING ONE END ADJUSTABLY ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD END OF SAID FIRST SKI-LIKE RUNNER, THE OTHER END OF SAID SECONDARY SKI-LIKE RUNNER BEING SECURED TO THE UPPERMOST PORTION OF SAID BODY MEMBER, 